Truth Under the Rubble (Book Three)

Prologue

Cat

It was Maxine's last day. Since we got back from Boston, Massachusetts, Max has been living with me and Maxine and he's been with me everyday to pick up Maxine. From preschool, which he loves doing, and everyday he's been working on making it up to Maxine and myself which is also making me happy.

I finally have Max back in my life again. Once Maxine came out of the school, she ran into Max's arms. She's like a little Super Girl. She loves jumping. Max found that out real quick. So Max opened the door for Maxine as I got into the car on the passenger side. Max wanted to drive today. Max has done all the driving and lately.

Max has been doing pretty good working with dad and uncle March for the past few months trying to get his feet wet, which I'm really proud of him. With Max's new contacts, we've been doing pretty good with jobs and we've been getting things done. Maybe that's what Max needed, is to go off into different fields and learn new things.

Today something is different as Max got Maxine into her car seat. As Max got into the drive side and we pulled off, we got to the stop light to pull to turn into the apartment but he went the opposite direction.

I looked over at him. "Where are we going?"

"I have been working on something lately and I got a surprise for everyone." He said.

I looked at him skeptically. "What did you do this time?" I asked as Max turned down another street and then we got closer to the water. "What is this?"

Then we came up to a warehouse.

"Maximus Doberman, what are you doing?"

He smiled at me. "I just found a new home. Where we can have more room and have our own business together."

I looked over and there's a lot of warehouse buildings being occupied. He pulled up to a warehouse.

"This is our new home." We got out, I lifted Maxine in my arms and we walked towards the front and there was a guy waiting for us.

"You must be Catherine Kaynine and Maxine." He smiled. He held out his hand and I shook it.

"We are."

"I am Sam Wilson and I'm the realtor."

"Hi." Then I looked at Max. "Max, can you explain?"

"I was thinking," Max rubbed his head and then he took a step back, "I bought us this warehouse. This is also where we're going to have our office and our meetings. It's literally not far from the police station. This is our own PI office. So we can have clients here in one area. Cat, this is a blank canvas. We can make it to what we want."

I looked at the warehouse and then I smiled. "I was hoping for this. I wish you would've talked to me but this is great." I looked at Max. "It's perfect, we can be discreet."

"Let me show you around." Sam said.

We walked in and this warehouse is big.

"I have a cousin that remodels buildings and he has good reviews." I said.

"Ricardo?" Sam asked.

"That's him."

"I always recommend him to my clients for remodeling."

"I've never met him." Max said.

"Ricardo is the only member of the family that isn't in the force of any kind but since he knows the ins and outs of a building, he is your guy to go to if you need to wire a building to spy. He is my go to guy for my gadgets. He can set up our security cameras and stuff."

"So he owns two companies and one is a secret." Max said.

"You got it." I said. "He's really popular with school police to make sure the students are safe."

"I guess I don't need to recommend him." Sam laughed. "You already have him in mind."

I laughed. "I got him on speed dial." I said. "I'll send him an e-mail on the way home and then we'll meet him when he is free."

"I think this business will be a success." Max said.

"Sure will be."

After Sam and Max showed me the building, we went back to the car and went back to the apartment.

"Yeah, this place is not big anymore. I'll miss this place." I said as I looked around. "I always use this place as an office but now, we can hire more people."

"Mommy, can I have an apple?" Maxine asked.

I lifted her on the island and she got an apple.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome sweetie."

"When are we going to Grandma's place?" She asked.

"This friday. I still have to pack your bag." I was stressed.

"What's wrong Cat?" Max pulled me in for a hug.

"Today is Wednesday and I haven't packed. I always do it at the last minute."

"Do you have clients for the rest of the week?"

"A few that need my attention. I have this one client and he keeps asking to look into every girlfriend he has, wanting to know if she is in for his money. And I'm his secret weapon for winning his trials."

"Is he rich?"

"Yes, he pays well. He's a rich Bulldog and owns law firms all over the country."

"Wow."

"Everyone wants a sugar daddy but he wants love and a family." I watched Maxine eat her apple. I looked over and saw Alex sleeping.

After we got back to New York City, my brother's brought Max outside and had a talk with him, so since then my brother's been giving him shit and Maxine has been happy and looking forward to career day when school starts back up again. I'm also looking forward to it too, plus I know Duke is going to get a little jealous. Lately every other weekend Max and Duke have been having brother time. Max has been respectfully coming home at a decent time, which makes me happy and also when I can't get to Maxine at her preschool to pick her up while I'm at a job, Max came and got her.

Alex, our dog, is still healthy for his age. Eight years old and still a happy dog. He loves being around Max again, those two have been inseparable since Max got back but he sleeps with Maxine.

"I won't be taking any more clients until we come back from a summer vacation."

"Now that summer vacation is here, where are we going to go?" Max asked. "I know you already had plans before I came back."

"Well, your mother, your sister-in-laws, their girls, Maxine and I are going to have a girls night while all the boys are hanging out. I promised Maxine a road trip and I promised to visit my Uncle Albert in California."

"The Uncle Albert that was adopted on your mother's side?"

"Yes. We were so close when I was growing up. I want to take Maxine to the Smithsonian."

"I want to visit Barlowe and Rome and see how they're doing."

"We have a lot of planning to do."

I knew, since I've met Max, my life was and is about to change.